Fawaz Al-Hasawi has written an open letter to Nottingham Forest fans saying he could sell 100% of his stake in the club if he finds the right buyer.
This comes after the Guardian published an article on Thursday detailing alleged claims made by the current Forest chairman regarding financial demands made in takeover negotiations which he has denied.
The Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Trust responded with an open letter to the football club following the article’s publication.
Interim chair of the Trust Richard Antcliff believes that there may be a protest by fans against Fawaz’s handling of the club at the home game against Cardiff on Saturday.
Fawaz has himself written the following open letter to the fans in response.
There has been a lot of speculation about the club and my intentions towards it in recent weeks and I wanted to take this opportunity to write to you directly.
Nottingham Forest Football Club has been in the newspapers for the wrong reasons and I am well aware that the speculation is unsettling for everyone.
There have been a lot of rumours and headlines regarding the potential sale of the club.
Many of them are wrong and I am in discussion with my lawyers about how best to correct them but I do want to give you the facts.
As I have said for some time now, I am actively trying to sell the club to a new owner who has the passion and financial firepower to see Forest return to the Premier League.
Firstly, I have no intention of remaining as Chairman of the club once a deal has been concluded.
I believe it is right and in the best interests of Nottingham Forest for there to be a completely fresh start.
Secondly, if the right owner comes forward and wants to purchase the whole club then I would not hesitate to sell 100% of my stake.
I am only committed to securing the best-possible future for Nottingham Forest.
Thirdly, I am in discussions with several interested parties at present and I hope to conclude a deal soon.
I hope you will understand why I can’t give a running commentary on ownership negotiations but will try to keep you updated whenever possible.
I became the owner of Nottingham Forest with, what I firmly believe, were the right intentions.
My ambition has only ever been to get this great club back into the Premier League and I have never been in this for my own financial profit.
Sadly, we are not where everyone wants us to be despite my investing millions of pounds of my own money in the club every month.
My commitment to you is that I will do everything in my power to secure a new owner who can start the next chapter for Nottingham Forest.
At this time I would also like to place on the record my respect for English football.
It is a league of great passion, professionalism and integrity and it has been a genuine pleasure to be a part of it, for all the ups and downs.
I wouldn’t want a throwaway comment reported this morning in The Sun, a comment made seven months ago in the full knowledge that I was being filmed, to be taken as anything other than the way that it was intended – as in jest between friends.
In hindsight it was a silly thing to do but there is no question in my mind that English football is the best in the world.
I recognise I should probably have written this letter sooner but I hope this gives some sort of clarity on the situation.
I will sadly not be at the game tomorrow, due to a long standing commitment out of the UK, but for now the most important thing is that everyone at Nottingham Forest focuses all their energy on giving the players their total support as we go after three points against Cardiff tomorrow.
Thank you.
